Gray Squirrel...

 The Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is often known as the most ecologically essential natural forest regenerator. It has a white underside as compared to the brownish-orange underside of the fox squirrel. This particular photo captures it eating a fresh twig from a red-tipped holly tree.
What I like particularly about this photograph is the detail in the underside of the front foot. You can see the pads which allow for it to have a tremendous grip as it traverses the trees.

Near Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # K09_5449c.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

"The Hunter"...

An adult Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) pauses on a tree branch while hunting birds. This bird is often referred to as a "medium-sized hawk", but in my opinion, it's a small hawk, especially relative to the general raptor species. This hawk is about 16" long with a wingspan of about 30" (varies by gender). It was commonly known to be placed in the genus Accipiter, which are generally your woodland hawks who mostly hunt on the wing.

Interesting fact: Dashing through vegetation to catch birds is a dangerous lifestyle. In a study of more than 300 Cooper’s Hawk skeletons, 23 percent showed old, healed-over fractures in the chest bones, especially the wishbone.

This is likely an adult female.
Near Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # K09_5403c.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Granite Falls"...

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # KS8_8784bwb.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

 

"Stormy Reflections"...

While the sunlight leaks through the canopy and highlights the leaves, the reflections in the water compete with the rocks appearing under the water. The result is quite a storm of reflections, while the large rock near center provides stability.

Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # F2509677bw2.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Rising Light"...

Morning fog and sunlight, February, 2026.
Central Arkansas.
Photo # P1050609bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Tracks & Shadows"...

Arkansas. February, 2012. 
Photo # IM5_6545bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Rocky Shore"...

The receded water level exposes a rocky shoreline, which appears as if it were another planetary surface.
This was a long exposure photograph shot on Ilford SFX200 film on a curved plane pinhole camera.

Lake Bennett, Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # F2508662-3b.
(c) Kelly Shipp